Casting Call For: Who Lives?

Casting Call For Who Lives?

The Renal Support Network is producing a play called Who Lives? to open in Los Angeles at the Pico Playhouse on March 12, 2009 for World Kidney Day. This production will serve as a platform for discussion, education and outreach on the importance of prevention of chronic kidney disease, the miracle of dialysis and organ donation awareness.

This play requires powerful actors with theatre experience and great emotional range. We would love to cast as many roles as possible with strong actors who actually have kidney disease and are willing to show how fully functional they are.

We also welcome name actors who would like to support our cause, especially for the challenging roles of Gabriel and Margaret.

If you are interested in one of these roles (see below for breakdown), please send your resume, head shot and contact information to Jodie@RSNhope.org by January 20th, 2009 and we will forward it to our casting director. In the subject line of the e-mail, write "Who Lives Casting Call".

SYNOPSIS: A powerful fictional account based on the early history of kidney dialysis. Seattle, early 1960s - an anonymous committee of ordinary citizens has been formed to select candidates from a pool of advanced kidney disease patients for an experimental procedure that could save their lives – the kidney dialysis machine. When a brash, high-powered attorney is rejected for inclusion, he tracks the committee down and a bargain is reached – they will include him in the program if he will join the committee. A moving drama about hope, despair, life, death and choice.

GABRIEL HORNSTEIN (45): A self-absorbed, successful attorney, Jewish with a younger shiksa wife and son that he neglects. When he discovers he has kidney disease, he fights his way into the dialysis program, joins the committee, and shakes up the selection process. As his marriage crumbles, his body battles disease, and he is faced with the consequences of his choices, he discovers spirituality, acceptance and generosity. Appearing in every scene, Gabriel is a tour de force role for an actor. (LEAD)

MARGARET HORNSTEIN (35): Gabriel’s wife, bright, beautiful and a sufferer in silence. Unhappy in her marriage, she is about to take her son on a “vacation” for good when she learns of Gabriel’s illness. She chooses to stay, and tries with great difficulty to rebuild their relationship as Gabriel’s priorities change dramatically. A quiet, intense role of restrained power. (LEAD)

JENNY/NURSE (25-30): Jenny is Gabriel’s uber-efficient secretary, who aspires to be a lawyer herself, and never lets Gabriel forget it. Compassionate and loyal, she helps her boss through his initial hospital visit and keeps things together for him as he goes through the dialysis program. This actor will also play a dialysis Nurse in one scene.

DR. SCHUSTER (early 30s): The resident who attends Gabriel when he first enters the hospital, he reluctantly reveals to him the serious nature of his condition. At first cold and aloof, he eventually tells Gabriel about the dialysis experiment, grudgingly helps him become a candidate, and ultimately joins the committee himself, where his own passion for helping people blossoms.

FATHER WILLIAM (late 40s–early 50s): The nominal head of the dialysis committee, Father William now tries to keep his unruly group together and focused as he uncomfortably makes not spiritual but actual life and death decisions. Warm, empathetic, and fair.

BAXTER/MCKNIGHT (50s): CAST
LAZLO (mid 30s): This committee member is the owner of a small chain of sporting goods stores. A classic 60s bigot and chauvinist, he also has a bit of a thing for fellow committee member Alice.

ALICE (mid to late 20s): A graduate student and proto-feminist, passionate about the work of the committee, and definitely not passionate for Lazlo, who represents everything she despises…until he shows a softer side.

FRANCINE (early 40s): A painfully timid housewife, on the verge of leaving the committee when we meet her. Her fellow members convince her to stay on, and Gabriel’s arrival ignites her passion to do right by the dialysis candidates and the strength to make tough choices. She is eventually instrumental in helping Gabriel make a crucial life decision.

VIOLINIST (30S): African American or East Indian, the first violinist for the Seattle Orchestra, and a candidate for dialysis who sparks controversy on the committee because of his race and profession. He eventually collapses onstage during a performance. This was originally an offstage character that we wish to add to this production. There is no dialog, but he will be a constant musical and physical presence. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A GENUINE, EXCELLENT CLASSICAL VIOLINIST OR CELLIST. COMPOSITIONAL ABILITY A HUGE PLUS.

Rehearsals begin: Early Feb.
Show opens: 3/12
Runs through: 3/29
Venue: Pico Playhouse
Performance Schedule: matinee and eve
Contract: AEA 99-seat
Pay Rate: $100 per week, including rehearsal weeks.

Who Lives? is written by Christopher Meeks